SANTIAGO, Chile – Gen. Augusto Pinochet was hospitalized after suffering a stroke yesterday, one day after an appeals court delayed a decision on whether to uphold the former dictator's indictment and house arrest on human rights charges.

Doctors say Pinochet, 89, has suffered several minor strokes since 1998. He also has mild dementia, diabetes and arthritis, and uses a pacemaker.

On Friday, the Santiago Court of Appeals postponed until this week a decision on whether to uphold his indictment and house arrest in the kidnapping of nine dissidents and the killing of one of them during his 1973-90 military regime. Pinochet's health problems rescued him from trial three years ago on other charges.

Associated Press

Indonesia reports falling object, blast

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Witnesses reported seeing a falling object with a tail of fire careening toward Earth close to Jakarta early today before a loud explosion was heard in several districts. There were no reports of injuries.

Indonesian air force radar detected an unidentified object falling toward the Earth at a high speed before disappearing about the same time as the noise was heard, a military spokesman said.

Media reports said an object that might have been a meteorite was seen flashing across the sky above the capital. Few details were immediately available.

Associated Press

Rocket launches French spy satellite

PARIS – A European rocket roared into space from a pad in South America yesterday, placing into orbit a surveillance satellite billed as giving France's military new abilities to spy worldwide.

The unmanned craft lifted off smoothly from a launch center in Kourou, French Guiana, at 1:36 p.m. – the third and last launch of an Ariane-5 rocket this year, Arianespace said.

Among expected functions, the satellite is to monitor possible weapons proliferation, prepare and evaluate military operations and digitally map terrain for cruise missile guidance, the French Defense Ministry said in a statement Friday.

Associated Press

Turks cheer leader's progress with EU

ANKARA, Turkey – Thousands of cheering supporters showered Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan with ticker tape yesterday as he returned to Ankara from a European summit, vowing to press on with reforms and the country's bid to join the bloc.

The European Union on Friday offered to begin talks aimed at bringing Turkey into the organization. The long-coveted invitation came despite widespread European misgivings about welcoming a poor, highly populated Muslim nation – and despite continued differences over Cyprus, Turkey's longtime adversary and an EU member since May.

The talks will begin Oct. 3, the beginning of a process that could take years and transform the political and social landscape.

Associated Press

Costliest truffle back in Italy for burial

ROME – The world's most expensive truffle was returned to Italy to be buried yesterday.

The white fungus, one of the most expensive foods in the world, was bought by a London restaurant at auction last month.

Despite having paid $52,000 for the fungus, the restaurant left it in a safe too long and it rotted. When experts in Florence heard, they asked to have the 1.9-pound truffle returned for burial in the hope it would sprout an even bigger one, local agency ANSA reported.

In exchange for its loss, London restaurant Zafferano would receive a selection of smaller white truffles of the equivalent weight, ANSA said.